I looked around and my eyes met something beyond the window.
"... ... !"
A bird resembling a crow was looking straight at me.
without looking away.
I looked at the bird again, wondering if I had seen something in vain.
The red eyes of the bird, which was still fixed on me, flashed for a moment.
'Ugh!'
It was embarrassing to see the stares so naked that it was an illusion.
'Should I tell Edwin?'
I soon changed my mind.
It was time to focus on the Duke of Peyton and Evelynn.
We didn't want to make a fuss without any solid evidence that it would be a threat to us.
"Where are you uncomfortable?"
Evelynn asked with a puzzled look if she saw me looking around.
"Oh, no."
I answered, trying to smile as naturally as possible.
That moment.
swish!
After the sound of the wind splitting, there was the sound of the windows shattering.
Duke Peyton reflexively embraced Evelynn and protected her.
I was startled and froze.
"what happened?"
At the same time, the drawing room door slammed open and Beryl and several other knights entered.
In the midst of the commotion, only Edwin calmly got up and went to the window.
Everyone's eyes turned to him at the unexplained behavior.
Edwin picked up something among the shards of broken glass.
"Suck."
Evelynn covered her mouth with her hand in surprise.
What was in Edwin's hand was a black bird that had been pierced by a needle the length of an adult's hand.
'how?'
Confusion quickly grasped the situation.
Edwin, who is always alert and aware of my condition, must have felt that I was nervous.
He even looked around, so he must have found the cause.
The incredible ability to pierce a window and kill a bird at once was terrifying, but I was reassured that he was my protector.
'Where the hell was that spit?'
No matter how much I looked on the table, I couldn't find any similar tools.
'Isn't that what he was carrying?'
For a moment, the spine shivered, but it quickly disappeared.
'Edwin doesn't hurt me.'
The faith, which slowly permeated like clothes soaked in the drizzle, was getting thicker and firmer day by day, like a tree ring that was gradually building up over time.
Meanwhile, Edwin returned to the sofa with the bird that had been pierced through his chest.
I reflexively leaned back at the eerie sight.
Even though Evelynn was startled, she was trying to calmly grasp the situation.
Duke Peyton relaxed the arm that was holding Evelynn, and looked at Edwin's bird with bitter eyes.
"It looks like it's not an ordinary bird."
"So I got it."
Edwin grinned at Duke Peyton's words.
'Isn't that an ordinary bird?'
With a puzzled heart, he looked down at the black bird.
Then I discovered something strange.
"You don't bleed."
I said with a firm face that Evelynn had also noticed what I had discovered.
"You came with something strange."
"You mean you followed us?"
"Crawford doesn't grow dirty things like this."
Duke Peyton's expression grew serious as Edwin spoke as he raised the wing of the bird.
"As you can see, this is no ordinary bird."
Edwin pulled the saliva from the bird's chest. His face frowned at the disgusting sight.
Not a drop of water, let alone blood, came out of the bird's chest, which was supposed to bleed all the time.
"Then is it a monster?"
"Even monsters have blood. Of course, the colors are different."
"Then what does this really mean?"
"Do not work. This is not a subjugation of a living creature, it is an artificial object created by a wizard with mana."
The moment Edwin's hand turned golden, the fumigated horse became powder and disappeared.
Everyone, including myself, watched the scene holding their breath.
The Duke of Peyton and Evelynn looked surprised at the unexpected sight.
I was confused in a different way.
'What if I show it to you?'
Didn't I say that the ancestor was a dragon and that the use of magic was a family secret?
That's why you went to get my kiss.
I didn't know what to say in this situation, so I just kept my mouth shut.
"Seeing the flow of magic, it seems that the owner is a warlock."
"... ... !"
Everyone was astonished by the unexpected identity. There was silence in the drawing room.
"... ... You mean there are warlocks in the Empire now?"
"You saw the evidence."
Edwin shrugged casually.
'What the hell is this?'
Why did a warlock not appear in the original story appear here?
I haven't even had the proper weapons to fight the imperial family yet, so I have to worry about a new villain I don't even know who he is.
I was embarrassed, so I became gloomy.
"Isn't black magic dangerous?"
"do not worry. I will protect you."
As usual, his warm eyes reached me.
Edwin gently wrapped his arms around my shoulder and walked away saying there was no need to be afraid.
My heart, which was beating anxiously with the familiar warmth, gradually stabilized, but I was still not convinced.
"You really didn't know?"
Edwin raised his eyebrows and looked at the Duke of Peyton.
"I swear by Peyton's name. It has nothing to do with us."
The Duke of Peyton was colored.
"Hmm, it must have been two people who brought it."
"You two are my benefactors. But how could you bring something dangerous? Trust us."
Evelynn also claimed their innocence.
"If we had used that bird to spy on you, would we have made it appear here?"
Duke Peyton made sense.
They were already facing each other in person, so there was no need to monitor them separately.
"For now, let me believe what you say. Then who is it?"
Edwin's eyes lit up like a child in front of a fun toy.
"If you followed us, your goal would be one of two things. Payton or Crawford."
"Who else knows you are visiting Crawford?"
"Only my aide and Isles Young-sik know."
"Are these two trustworthy?"
"The aide comes from a family that has been with Payton from generation to generation and is someone you can trust. It has nothing to do with magic."
"The Isles family is a family that has been with Payton for many years. Caleb is my childhood friend. Moreover, he is a favored man to both of them, so he has no reason to plan anything like this."
"You don't know what's inside people."
Edwin smirked.
Evelynn tried to argue further, but Duke Peyton stopped him.
"We'll investigate those two on our own."
"Anyway. Instead, if today's event has anything to do with Payton, you should be prepared."
Edwin threatened with a smile more beautiful than ever.
Peyton, feeling the young life inside the wall, quickly covered Evelyn's face and protected it.
In an instant, a tense atmosphere filled the living room.
"Ed."
Blue eyes stared at me as I held my hand and gently called out.
"Did you not forget what I asked for?"
Today we must obtain a permit to enter Mt.
Edwin shouted loudly to leave it to him.
When reminded of that fact, Edwin folded the corners of his eyes beautifully.
"Then, this is Lina's request. do not worry."
Don't just say it, show it with your actions.
I sighed and put a smile on my face.
Edwin, who smiled at me, turned his head to the Duke of Peyton.
"Let's put aside the ministry and work out the purpose of today's meeting."
When Edwin passed away, the Duke of Peyton was relieved and straightened his posture.
"The greeting was late due to an unexpected event. Thank you for presenting her glasses to her daughter. Thanks to her, she is free to act."
Duke Peyton bowed his head deeply toward us.
"Thank you so much. If it wasn't for you two, I would still be wandering in the dark."
Evelynn rose from her seat and bowed politely.
"He had a conscience."
Edwin grinned.
"My bride was sad to hear about the princess. So I gave it to you."
"So was it."
Evelynn spoke as if she already knew it was me, not Edwin, who prepared the gift.
'Did Caleb say that?'
Seeing me persuade Edwin, he might have said something.
"It was sad to hear about Princess Yeong-sik from Isles Young-sik. So she gave her glasses as a gift in hopes of being of some help. I'm glad it was helpful."
"It's not about helping. You are the benefactor who saved me."
Evelynn said in a choked voice.
Thinking of an opportunity, I got up and sat down next to Evelynn.
Edwin told me yesterday.
[Heal the princess when you have the chance.]
[You mean to use jewelery?]
[okay. To be completely healed.]
[What if I get suspicious?]
I couldn't understand why Edwin, who had been careful about using Jewelery, gave me such instructions.
[Cover your hands well. I'll take care of the rest.]
He even gave me an emerald ring to exhort me to my anxiety.
'Edwin must have a plan.'
Trying to calm my pounding heart, I swung the emerald ring on my right hand so that the jewel was facing inward.
And gently grabbed Evelynn's hand with both hands.
Embarrassed, Evelynn flinched.
"I must have suffered a lot."
Evelynn's eyes fluttered open as she gently offered her consolation.
"It was really dark... ... . Thank you. Without the two of us, we would not have been able to move around so freely."
I continued to hold Evelynn's hand while she was voicing her feelings.
The emerald had already been activated before entering the drawing room, so the moment it touched Evelynn, the healing power was being expressed.
Since Evelynn's symptoms were relieved by the glasses, there was no need to amplify the power of the jewel through me.
There was no need to add my energy, so there was no light from my hand or no jewels from shining.
Even so, I wondered if Evelynn might be interested in my ring, so I continued to look into each other's eyes and offered comfort and encouragement with my eyes.
"I'm so glad I'm feeling much better."
"Thanks to Angelina-sama. Thank you."
"I think we have a relationship. If she hadn't met Isles Young-sik that day, she wouldn't have even thought of giving it to Princess."
He smiled softly and told Evelynn that he had a crush on him.
"Now that I have a valuable relationship, I have to say thank you to Caleb."
Evelynn has also sent positive signals, indicating that she is willing to advance the relationship.
"Come to think of it, Isles Youngsik's contribution is huge."
While we were laughing and talking, the energy flowing from Emerald to Evelynn stopped.
I finished the conversation and went back to Edwin's side.
Meanwhile, Duke Peyton, who was having a conversation with Edwin, straightened out what he was going to say with a serious expression on his face.
"Payton is sure to repay the favor he received. Is there anything we can do to help?"
Finally, the words we had been waiting for came out of the peacock's mouth.
I clenched my handkerchief, hiding as much joy as I could.
"I want one thing."
Edwin revealed that he had a wish as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Duke Peyton responded calmly, as if he knew he was going to ask for a price.
"Tell me."
"I want you to let me enter Mt. Mether."
The mention of Mt. Peyton's face hardened. A vigilant light shone in his ego.
Evelynn was also covered with glasses, so her eyes could not be seen well, but she felt embarrassed.
"Why do you want to go to Mount Mether?"
"Should I tell you why?"
Edwin asked angrily.
"Mount Mether is sacred to our family. As the head of the state, I have a responsibility and an obligation to protect that mountain."
"I mean, glasses aren't enough."
Duke Peyton didn't say anything, but it was as if he had answered.
Peyton had said that the reason why Mount Mether was sacred is because of the veins that run from it.
However, from the reaction of Duke Peyton, it seemed that it was not just for that reason.
There seemed to be a much heavier and more serious reason than that.
'You don't know about Sephiroth's sword yet.'
In the original story, Duke Peyton learned about Sephiroth's sword only at the request of the Crown Prince.
Until then, he didn't even know that Sephiroth's sword existed on Mount Meter.
'Why?'